150

Breaking up the WIRs, here’s my 150th bird at the Arlington Res

Broad-wing

Worth the Sand

Some shots of the Mew (Common) Gull at King’s Beach on the Lynn/Swampscott line on Sunday:

Mew Gull

Gull lineup

Flying off after 20 minutes (by which point almost everyone else had left):

Mew Gull

Mew Gull from below

Even hiding beside the steps, the wind was blasting sand all over. Still cleaning it out of everything.

543

Lapwing 1

Lapwing 1

Lapwing 2

Easy chase Monday made better when a second was found 15 minutes away. Both distant and I didn’t get the flight views I wanted but no complaints.

Which photo was taken with the phone and scope and which came from the dslr?

Wood Sand

Finally got down to Rhode Island for the Wood Sandpiper today (after thinking about it both days last weekend and yesterday). Ride down was easy, and walk out was easy (although muddy and we started in the wrong direction). The bird couldn’t have been easier to see (50 feet away at most and by itself).

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

100!

Better than a new Waltham bird, yard bird #100 was found this afternoon in the spruce tree next door.

Yard #100!

Coming back from a walk around the block, barely even needed to look at this Merlin before I ran (first to the yard, then into the house for the camera). Snapped this from the bedroom (through the window and screen). Unfortunately it took off in the time it took to run back down and get outside again.

Third time I’ve seen one in the neighborhood, so about time I got it on the yard list. Surprisingly, not on my list of picks for #100, although if I adjusted for the later season it probably would have been.

201

Morning Fog

Wasn’t sure if I made the right decision to get up early this morning when I saw the fog. But since I was up, I headed to the UMass Field Station.

Blue Grosbeak

And found #201 for Waltham, a nice Blue Grosbeak. Trying to phone-bin a photo in the fog didn’t quite work, but you can see the general color at least. Got better views later but didn’t try for another photo.

Weekend Sparrows

It’s sparrow season, here’s a few from Saturday:

Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Funky Chipping Sparrow, Busa Farm (really far away)

Vesper

Vesper Sparrow, Waltham St. Fields

Sparrow 1

Sparrow 1

Clay-colored Sparrow, Waltham St. Fields

Sparrow 2

Sparrow 2

Second Clay-colored (I think and haven’t had anyone say not), Waltham St. Fields

Now to find my own Lark…